Apparatus for mixing liquor in tan-vats.



No. 863,216 PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

G. PLACE. APPARATUS FOR MIXING LIQUOR IN TAN VATS..

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No. 863,216. PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

- G. PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR MIXING LIQUOR IN TAN VATS.

APPLICATION FILED 1920.24. 1906.

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' GRIFFIN PLACE, OF WOBURN,

MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR MIXING LIQUOR IN TAN-VATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed December 24, 1906. Serial Nor 349,331.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRIFFIN PLACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Woburn, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Mixing Liquor in Tan-Vats, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to means for keeping the liqnor in tan vats in continuous circulation from bottom to top and return so as to have the liquor act with equal strength upon all parts of the skin. If the liquor is left stagnant, there is a tendency for the stronger portion to sink to the bottom and for the weaker portion to remain at the top so that the skins are tanned unevenly. If an agitating device be employed which produces counter-currents or which causes the circulation to be around a vertical axis, that is for the circulation to be in horizontal planes, the effect is to cause the suspended hides to sway and to contact more or less with each other and thus at the point of contact there will be produced spots on the skin.

The object of the present invention is to provide an agitating apparatus by which the liquor is kept in continuous circulation in vertical planes.

In an application filed by me September 25, 1906, Serial N 0. 336,159, I have shown and described a valved paddle extending crosswise of the vat near one end thereof at right angles with the planes in which the skins are to be suspended and means for oscillating the paddle so that when the valve oscillates towards the other end of the tank, the valve will be closed by the pressure and the continuation of the forward stroke will push the liquor forward and on the return stroke the backward pressure of the liquor will cause the valve to open to let the liquor pass through the valved opening of the paddle so not to set up the counter-current.

The present invention is an improvement upon the apparatus shown in said application Serial N 0. 336,159. I have found it desirable to provide the paddle with stops which limit the extent of opening movement of the valve on the return stroke so as to overcome the tendency which the clapper valve sometimes has to float and to fail of closing properly on the forward stroke.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features are pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of the specification.

In the drawings,Figure l is a vertical section transversely of the vat near one end thereof looking toward the interior of the vat. Fig. 2 is a vertical section at right angles with Fig. 1 and partly broken away, the agitating apparatus being shown in the position that it will occupy just at the beginning of the forward i l l stroke of the paddle. Fig. 3 is a section on the same line as Fig. 2 showing the position of the apparatus at the end of the forward stroke and also showing the eccentric for actuating the paddle. Fig. 4: is a vertical section showing the position of the apparatus after the paddle has begun its backward stroke and the valve is opened, the valve being engaged by the stops to limit its opening. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of the paddle with the valve engaged by one of the stops. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail front elevation of the paddle. Fig. 7 is an enlarged upper edge view of the left hand portion of the paddle with the valve closed.

Referring to the drawings,9 represents the vat in which the hides 10 are suspended from cross strips 11 parallel-with each other in the usual way. The liquor usually nearly fills the vat as indicated by the dotted line 22. Extending crosswise of the vat at one end in the lower part thereof and transversely of the direction in which the hide extends is a paddle or agitator which is pivoted so that it may be oscillated back and forth. As shown in the drawings, it has a frame 12 provided with pivot pins 13 at each end near the upper edge which are journaled in standards let on the inside walls of the vat. There should be a sufficient clearance below the paddle so that it can swing freely without, however, leaving very much extra space below it, and the pivot bearings should be sufficiently far away from the corner of the vat so as to give roomfor the paddle to swingthrough the required arc, preferably say about 45 degrees on each side of the vertical. The paddle is provided with a clapper valve 15 hinged along its upper edge to the frame 12 of the paddle on the forward side thereof and is free on the lower side and at the ends except along the hinge line so that it will swing open as the paddle swings backward and be closed as it swings forward. The valve 15 is of suificient size to entirely cover the opening of the frame 12. The upper edge of the valve may be hinged to the frame in any suitable way, the hinges 16 which are shown being preferably of leather, as leather is flexible and is well adapted to remain unaffected seriously by the action of the liquor as would be the case with metal hinges, although I should regard the use of metal hinges, or hinges of any material or any flexible connection equivalent to hinges to be within the scope of the invention. The valve 15 is preferably of wood as being well adapted to withstand the action of the tanning liquor and is also sufficiently rigid to meet the requirements. I do not, however, limit myself to the use of wood.

In order to limit the opening movement of the valve on the backward stroke and to prevent its floating, I provide stops 17 carried by the frame 12 of the paddle which engage the valve 15 after the valve is partially opened. The steps which I have shown consist of pin 17 which are secured to the end pieces of the paddle 12 and project forwardly and are inclined inwardly, being set so as not to interfere with the partial opening of the valve, but Which engage the valve after it is opened a limited distance. 111 the form shown, the forward ends of the stop pins are each formed with a shoulder 18 Which engages the end of the valve. It is preferable that the stops should limit the opening of the valve sufliciently so that the valve will never float up to a horizontal position although I do not intend to limit the scope of this invention to any particular degree of opening, and a construction in which the paddle is permitted a movement even as far as a horizontal I should regard as coming within the scope of my invention.

Any suitable mechanism for reciprocating the paddle may be employed, thatwhich is shown in the drawings being by means of a vertical reciprocating rod 19 actuated by an eccentric 2O driven by a rod 21, the rod 19 being pivotally connected with a rocker arm 23 which is rigidly connected with the paddle frame 12.

lVhile I have shown the stops as consisting of the pins 17, it is obvious that other suitable means may be provided which limit the opening movement of the paddle, and I do not intend to limit the scope of my invention to the particular stop means shown.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a tan vat, a paddle extending crosswise of the vat and pivoted so as to oscillate on its axis, an opening through the paddle and a clapper valve on the forward side of the paddle covering said opening and hinged on its upper edge to the paddle, stops which limit the opening movement of the valve and means for oscillating the paddle.

2. In combination with a tan vat, a paddle extending crosswise of the vat and pivoted so as to oscillate on its axis, an opening through the paddle and a clapper valve on the forward-side of the paddle covering said opening and hinged on its upper edge to the paddle, and stop pins projecting from the frame of the paddle which extend forward and project over the ends of the valve, whereby the valve is allowed to open a limited distance on the rearward stroke of the paddle, said stop pins engaging said valve to limit the extent of such opening.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature, in presence or two witnesses.

GRIFFIN PLACE.

Witnesses \VILLIAM A. COPELAND, ALICE II. Moimisox. 

